Planning for summer camp can be overwhelming, but having the right supplies on hand makes all the difference. Whether you’re leading arts and crafts, STEM challenges, or team-building exercises, being prepared helps ensure that campers stay engaged, creative, and safe. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive Camp Counselor Checklist – your go-to guide for must-have materials that will keep campers learning and having fun all summer long.

Our checklist covers all the essentials, starting with safety – first-aid kits, sunscreen, and emergency essentials are all part of the list to ensure a smooth and secure camp experience. We have also included basic craft supplies like markers, glue, and construction paper that are perfect for a variety of creative projects. Add some exciting STEM materials such as building kits and coding activitie, helping campers explore engineering and problem-solving skills. Beyond hands-on activities, we’ve included resources for character-building and behavioral health, featuring activities that promote teamwork, kindness, and personal growth.

Download a printable version of the full Checklist here so you can easily check off each item as you prepare for camp!

Safety & Essentials

Being a summer camp counselor is a fun and rewarding experience, but it also comes with a great deal of responsibility. With the importance of working with children and their safety in mind, there are certain essential items you need to bring with you during summer camp season. There will be bug bites, cuts and bruises, itching, lots of germs, sunburns and the possibility of more involved injuries, especially if you are outside in the hot weather. These items will help you be prepared for those eventualities.

• First Aid Kit
• Whistle and lanyard
• Sanitizing wipes
• Sunscreen
• Collapsible Water Bottles
• Flashlight
• Stopwatch
• Tally Counter
• Safety Pins
• Duct Tape
• Backpack / Tote Bag

You will see the list includes important safety items, like first aid kits that are portable and great for on the go. It’s also good to keep a few hand sanitizing wipes in your bag for all those sticky fingers. Remember to keep water and bottles with you so kids stay hydrated during the hot days – collapsible bottles are great for easy storing. Sunscreen and sunglasses are important for protecting skin and eyes.

We also recommend some type of whistle and lanyard, which is better than having to shout for your group’s attention, and can be handed out to campers in case they are lost in the woods and need to be located.

Tally counters help you ensure you have your whole group and no one is left behind. And since you may be moving around a lot or in unfavorable conditions to keep your phone out, you want a stopwatch with a clock to help you manage your student’s days.

Duct tape is a great all-purpose tool for fixing broken clothes or bags. And safety pins are great for pinning awards on students, but more importantly keeping pants from falling down when zippers break. And they will break. And of course, you need a bag or tote to hold all of this! Or, fanny packs are making a comeback!

Character Development and Behavioral Health

Building strong relationships with campers is key to a successful summer. The right tools can help counselors break the ice, encourage meaningful discussions, and promote emotional well-being. You are going to want ways to get to know your campers, encourage positive choices, and inspire them. The items below will help you achieve these goals and more.

• Conversation Starters / Chat Packs
• Toss N’ Talk Balls
• Calming Kits
• Breathing Boards
• Inspirational Bracelets
• Gratitude Journal
• Mindfulness Cards

You will see that this list includes many items and games to help you get to know your campers, manage behavior, and provides some calming resources. We included activities to use as icebreakers or during down times will help encourage lasting friendships and kind interpersonal interaction. Some examples we included in the list are bracelets with character traits on them.

A new and useful tool that I also love are the gratitude journals for campers to write down favorite memories from camp, and to check in with themselves and record their feelings and maintain a positive mindset. They can also jot down game ideas, health notes, and other important information.

Keep in mind that prizes and stickers are also great for immediate reinforcement of positive behaviors. To help campers that are feeling left out, have a few incentive’s or giveaways handy to cheer them up and make them feel included.

Games & Activities

Keeping campers active and engaged is essential for a fun and memorable camp experience, and having a variety of games and activities on hand ensures there’s something for everyone. With this mix of active and strategic play, counselors can keep campers entertained and learning all summer long.

• Hoops
• Cones
• Poly Spots or Spot Markers
• Balls
• Jumbo Games
• Team Building Games
• Toss Games
• Card Games
• Board Games
• Trivia Games
• Parachutes

Classic equipment like hoops, cones, and poly spots provides endless options for relay races, obstacle courses, and movement-based challenges.

Balls are of course a must-have for everything from traditional sports balls to creative group games with playground or foam balls.

Jumbo games add an extra level of excitement with oversized fun, while toss and team games encourage cooperation and friendly competition, helping campers develop communication and problem-solving skills.

On the rainy days and even the beautiful picture perfect days, you will need something to pass some down time with your campers. It could be after lunch, during a set break, or while waiting for campers to change. This is a perfect time for card games, board games, and trivia games. It is amazing the games you can play with a simple deck of cards!

And of course, no camp is complete without a parachute! Perfect for group activities that promote teamwork and coordination.

STEM Items

STEM activities are a popular way to spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills in campers of all ages. Whether exploring robotics, circuitry, or structural design, these STEM tools inspire curiosity and critical thinking, helping campers develop skills they’ll carry with them long after summer ends.

• Snap Circuits
• Coding Activities
• Building Sets
• Makey Makey Kit
• Magformers Sets
• Science Kits
• Linking Cubes

Hands-on learning with snap circuits introduces campers to the basics of electricity, coding, and innovation in a fun, interactive way. Also the Makey Makey Kit is one of my favorites!

Building sets including the popular magformers encourage creativity and engineering thinking as campers design and construct their own unique structures.

Science kits provide exciting experiments that bring chemistry, physics, and biology to life, making learning feel like an adventure.

Craft Supplies

A well-stocked craft area is always important for crafting fun at camp. Whether you are planning a specific project or just allow for open-ended creativity, these basic supplies give campers the tools they need to create their own unique projects.

• Glue and Tape
• Paint
• Construction Paper
• Coloring Supplies
• Chenille Stems
• Beads

With the basic craft supplies like glue, tape, paper, paint, and markers, campers can build, assemble, and bring their imaginative projects to life. Every camp needs these supplies so that their campers to express themselves through drawing and design. They can then bring home some fun crafts they made at camp and be proud of their work.

Chenille stems add a fun, flexible element for 3D creations! And beads are perfect for making personalized jewelry and keychains, or even friendship bracelets.

Craft Projects

Bulk supplies are great and definitely needed, but I also recommend having some craft kits or projects on hand for a more guided craft program. These projects offer a mix of creativity, self-expression, and teamwork.

• Velvet Art Projects
• Paint-A-Dot Crafts
• Collaborative Art Projects
• Wearable Crafts
• Camp Banners
• Patriotic Crafts

Velvet Art and Paint-A-Dot crafts provide mess-free, confidence-boosting activities. These can be done by campers of all ages, as there are guided lines or dots that help you stay on track.

Collaborative art projects encourage teamwork as campers work together to create murals or group masterpieces that showcase their collective talents. Wearable crafts like hats, capes, bracelets, and bags add a personal touch, letting campers create something they can proudly wear or take home as a keepsake.

Have campers create a banner to show camp spirit – they can design and decorate their own unique flags or signs. Campers can also celebrate with themed projects that are perfect for holidays like the Fourth of July.

Takeaways

Whether you’re a first-time counselor or a seasoned camp leader, this checklist will help you stay organized and prepared. By having everything you need at your fingertips, you can focus on what truly matters – creating a memorable summer full of exploration, creativity, and fun.

You are now more than prepared for your time in the sun having fun with friends while making some extra cash and getting a swim or two in. Plus, you may just turn some frowns upside down and make some friends yourself with your cool new supplies!

Download the checklist and get ready for your best camp season yet.

Additional Resources

• Summer Camp Resources 
• Ice Breaker Activities
• Attention Grabbing Words

Add to your checklist to make the most impact as a camp counselor – Food For Thought:

Is everyone in your group “Present”? Not just physically there, but are they engaged with the group and feeling part of the team? Does everyone have a buddy? No bullies! Lead by example and be that buddy if need be. Set the tone for the day with enthusiasm – summer camp is about having fun, trying new things, making new friends and building life skills and social skills that they will use throughout their life. Be a positive influence!

Is everyone having fun?  Ask a camper who may be feeling left out to help you out with a special silly task or start a game or camp song – anything to pull them into the circle so everyone is engaged.

Some kids really struggle with being “un-plugged”. Keep in mind, not having that electronic crutch aka cell phone to hide behind can leave even the most social kids feeling awkward, so it’s up to the camp counselor to set the tone to fun for the day, break the ice and make sure everyone is involved.

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Author

Charles Silberman has worked as a counselor and camp PE teacher for over 25 years and is currently a PE teacher at an Elementary School. He has become a leader and advocate for incoming physical educators by running workshops on teaching in limited space at staff in-services and conferences, assisting with new teacher orientations, and other initiatives. Charles has also created a niche as a physical education specialist who fuses technology and primary instructional subjects into physical education lessons.

Let us know in the comments what your most important items are on your checklist!